Niko woke slowly feeling refreshed but still slightly weak.
He looked to Nienna who was looking out of the window.
''I'm sorry I keep falling asleep. You must feel restless, stuck in here.'' Groaning, he raised himself slowly and set his head on her chest, putting his arm on her belly. He needed to feel her warmth, he missed her closeness while he slept.

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She held him softly. "I am glad you keep falling asleep. You need it for your strength and recovery. And no. I am content here." she kissed his head affectionately before turning her gaze back to the window "You should have stayed laying down." yet she continued to hold him. How would he react to what she was discovering? She looked down at him, deciding that he surely didn't have to know. He had enough on his mind. She cradled him close. Breathing in the comforting scent of him.

''Yes I should have. But I prefer this.'' As he spoke he noticed his throat was dry.
'May I have some water?''
He noticed she was once again staring out of the window. ''What is it that interests you so?'' He snuggled closer to her.
She is my cure

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She snapped back to the present. "Yes love." she reached out and grabbed the cup of water, holding it to his lips, not wanting to answer his question. She hoped he would forget he asked. "Has the pain dulled at all?"

He drank the water, enjoying it. he was starting to feel better.
''The only pain that remains is in my chest when I move. I would hope that it will remain at that''
Niko had forgotten about his question, he was still not fully recovered.
''I am glad I made you my wife. I died as your husband and came back as such. I want you to know I regret nothing''

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"Good. You seem to be recovering speedily." she smiled, relieved he did not press further. "And I am glad as well, that you returned. I would have it no other way." she squeezed him briefy and gently.

Niko looked up at her, smiling. He was content to just lay there as she held him. She had seen him through the worst and he was finally beginning to feel like his old self. He knew that without her he wouldn't be there. He listened to her heart beat, a sweet melody to his ears. He could find no words, he just held her closer.

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She enjoyed him holding her close. It was even sweeter now after what had happened. Her gaze returned to the window where the wind began blowing more furiously, as if upset that she was ignoring it. She began to tense she the wind blew into the room, right over her, only touching her face and hair, not even grazing Niko. She kept her face still, though her mind was panicking. She subtly moved her hand, and when it grew cold, she knew the wind had now focused it's attention there. It swirled around her hand, only concentrated on her hand and nowhere else. She didn't know what to do, so she just held her hand, letting the wind stay there. Her eyes grew frightened, she knew. What now? She had no idea. If she took her hand down the wind would blow on her face, and she knew at the angle they were sitting that if the wind was normal it would blow over Niko too. So she sat just as she was.

As Niko lay there with her he felt her tense up as her body stiffened.
He lifted his head to look at her and saw some worry on her face.
''What is wrong?''
He was confused. Was there something wrong with her?
Niko sat up a little, hoping she wasn't in any pain.

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"what?" she squeaked out "Nothing! Nothing is wrong. Nope! Absolutely nothing!" she let out a nervous laugh, dismayed at how pathetic she sounded. She held her hand out away from then farther, causing her body to lean slightly. The wind currents around her hand grew stronger. She jumped, startled as she felt how much wind was around her hand now. She looked down and saw with dread that the amount of wind around her hand was starting to stir the bed covers. She tossed a leg over the area, hoping to hide the movement.

Niko began to grow scared for her.''Nienna, tell me the truth.'' He reached and took both her hands before dropping them at what he felt.
He thought he felt what seemed to be a gust of wind around her hand.Niko then saw the bed covers begin to move as if wind was blowing them.
He began to panic, not entirely sure what was going on. He backed away from Nienna.
Was that even Nienna? Has something taken over her? Could it be Elthor's tricks??

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"Niko! Please!" she looked at him, her eyes terrified. What did he think of her? Did he think her a witch? "Niko, I don't know what it is, it happened last night when I walked toward Elthor and ever since..." she found breathing difficult as he back away from her. No! Her heart screamed. This is what she had been afraid of. Her breathing became gasps as she began to hyperventilate, afraid of losing him again. She dropped her hand and the wind played with her hair. She couldn't breathe, she just stared at him, her eyes wide with terror."Ni....niko..." she gasped out.

Niko was completely out of his comfort zone. He had never encountered or experienced magic and those who practiced it before.
When she walked towards Elthor? Had he cursed her? Or was she just trying to trick him with her words?
He backed away further, falling from the bed, grimacing and gasping as pain shot up in his ribs.
He was too shocked to speak, he watched her waiting to see what she would do. He knew that he was powerless against magic, especially as he was already vulnerable.

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"Niko, I don't know what it is! The wind, it responds to me..." she didn't know how else to say it. "Please...please don't leave..." her heart broke at the look on his face, it was more difficult to breathe, and she could see black taking her vision. "Niko...husband..."

He was not sure what to do. He tried to think, rationally and quickly. As he took in her words, he had to admit it sounded like Nienna. But he knew he was completely vulnerable if it was a trick. Niko began to question himself. I am vulnerable and have been for a while. surely if I was meant harm, I would have been attacked by now
he looked over to Nienna, taking in her voice and the way she looked at him. It had to be his Nienna. He moved towards her, cautiously and slowly took her hand. If that was indeed his wife, he would be damned before he deserted her.
''Breathe, love. Breathe''

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He came back to her, and his lips were moving, but she couldn't hear. She only heard her heart roaring in her ears, he took her hand and she grasped it, trying to breathe. She took comfort from his touch, and tried telling the wind to leave her. It worked. The wind immediately died down, and she collapsed on the bed in front of Niko, trembling and still trying to breathe. What was she? How was this happening? What was it?